More
than a month ago, Hurricane Sandy swept across the
northeast coast of the U.S., claiming dozens of
lives and leaving millions without power. Before it
hit the U.S., at least 71 people were killed in the
Caribbean. Before the storm hit, residents were
repeatedly warned to get out of Sandy's path.

The Governor of Connecticut told people, "Get out
before you can't." New Jersey governor Chris
Christie said it was "stupid and selfish" to ignore
the warnings of coming danger. But despite all the
dire warnings and predictions before the storm hit,
many residents in the center of the storm's path
refused to heed the warnings. Some just shrugged off
the warnings, jogging, walking their dogs, visiting
their usual coffee and bagel delis. When the storm
hit, people realized they should have listened, but
it was too late. The storm already had them within
its grip.

In Brooklyn, a young couple was reportedly hit by a
tree while walking their dog. Walking their dog mind
you! Governor Christie immediately called for a
search and rescue to find lost people—the very
people who should have heeded the warnings in the
first place. According to a New York Times article,
scientists had been warning government officials for
years about the impending danger of massive storms.
Sometimes you just have to wonder how many warnings
we need before we wake up and take action.

God has also issued a few warnings. Jesus will come
again…be ready! Everyone faces death…be prepared!
There will be a judgment and an assignment to either
heaven or hell…here’s your warning.

However, millions also ignore God’s words of caution
regarding the end times and go on with hardly an
afterthought as to the storm bearing down on them.
The bible calls that person a fool.

Jesus often spoke of the importance of being ready. He not only
clearly believed in the end of time, he also did all he could to
convey the importance of every person to prepare themselves for it.
Within several of his parables, he identifies the difference between
being a winner or a loser when it came to death, judgment, and the
second coming. Then he warned us to make sure we weren’t found to be
losers.

During the month of January we will take a closer look at those “end
times” parables and how we can keep from making the same mistakes.